The Mourner’s Cradleoffers up an exciting start. After an intriguing prologue, we are introduced to the novel’s protagonist, Anne Sharpe. The young widow confronts an unwelcome guest at her husband’s funeral and later encounters an intruder at home. She concludes this is all related to her late spouse’s research into “The Mourner’s Cradle” and sets off to finish what he started.

Her trip to Peru, with associates, Ruben and Raul, is filled with adventure and danger, thanks to run-ins with her husband’s adversaries and hostile terrain. The story reminded me of a dark blend of Lara Croft meets Indiana Jones, if the tale were set on (and in) a snowy mountain.

For the most part, the novel was a thrilling ride and kept me entertained. I enjoyed it’s fast pace and plucky protagonist. The action scenes were well written, which is important in this kind of story, but there were a couple of slow moments that seemed somewhat drawn out and repetitive, like at the airport, and the dialogue didn’t always flow well. Those things aside, it was a positive reading experience for me, overall. I would describe it as more of a thriller than a horror novel, but it was worth the read and I would rate it four out of five stars.